Chrysler Sailors Forum

After cutting open the deck, I needed to sit down with a glass of scotch. I considered cutting her up, getting what I could for parts and scrap. Even doing that would take a bit of work and time. But, I have a hull and a deck, the makings of a sailboat, I just need to make it better. For those folks...

I think I have solution to the hull joint and deck problem. I discussed the problem and possible solutions with two mechanical engineers that I work with and we all agreed that the following makes the most sense. You will need to laminate two pieces of white oak to replace the original plywood that ...

The port stanchion closest to the cockpit had more flex than I liked, the gelcoat had cracks near the lip of the toe rail. The bolts were tight and there is a 1/8" SS backing plate under the stanchion, all should be good right, not. I removed the toe rail, screws every 4", good, screws und...

Thanks gregcrawford
I sanded off most of the bottom paint and it looks like the rudder had a fight with the prop and lost.

Does anyone know how the rudders were constructed? Looks like two molded halves bonded together. Filled with foam? Seems too light to be plywood core.

I fabricated the SS shoe myself, it took me about an hour. I am fortunate to have a machine shop at my disposal, to a point. My boat was not been in the water since 08, and had probably never been covered in the off season. The cabin floor felt solid enough when you walked on it and I'm certain it h...

Personally. if you want to get the boat launched soon, if the floor is wet, I would cut away the floor area under the compression post and at least put a dry piece of lumber under it. Your teak post looks to be in much better condition than mine and the mast would have a good foundation for this sea...

I removed the starboard side "keel stiffener" aft of the ballast, it hasn't served it's design purpose for many years. I fabricated a SS shoe to rest on the keel and support the compression post. The base is 3X5X1/2". the tube is 2X2X.120 wall with a 1/4" plate welded on top. I a...

I have concrete and shot for ballast. The plywood was probably used to stiffen the trunk against the weight of the ballast. If the water saturated plywood ever froze, the ballast is not going to move, but the fiberglass certainly will. I've seen encapsulated rudders slip open from freezing because e...

I removed the last of the floor, under the ladder. I believe the floor was replaced at some time. I found a few drywall screws in the plywood, under the fiberglass layer. I don't think they had drywall screws in 1978 and with all the other SS screws I've removed I can't see any reason Chrysler would...

I have started a photo log on Flickr of the work I'll be doing. http://www.flickr.com/photos/93952888@N00/sets/72157623885035070/ I removed the compression post and it is toast. I'll replace it with a 2"x2"x.120" wall square steel tube with SS ends. Metals Depot http://www.metalsdepot...

There is a block of wood under the fiberglass floor liner, that block rests on the plywood floor. Chrysler covered the plywood floor with one layer of fiberglass top and bottom, which would worked fine if the floor never saw standing water. The plywood floor about 6" aft of the swing keel trunk...

I finally finished digging out the last portion of the cabin sole, under the mast compression post. The teak compression post was resting on the thick piece of wood which in turn rested on the soggy 3/4" plywood floor. The bulkhead was taking the loading from the mast and it must have been diff...

The C26 has a solid hull. Some S2 boats, the grand slam series, has balsa cored hulls.

This is one I had not read about before I bought my C26. The boat had about one inch of standing water covering the cabin sole the first time I looked at it. I was not too concerned, I'd looked at several boat with a full bilge or standing water on the floor, fiberglass right. I took another look at...

Thanks for the responses. If I decide to remove the cast shoes and check the pin, I'll take photos and write about the process.

I take delivery tomorrow and I am excited. I haven't owned a sailboat since 1981.

I just purchased a 1978 C26 from a family that had owned her since 1995. Structurally she is sound, but has not been sailed since 08. Has anyone removed the castings that the keel pivots on? They appear to fastened to the bottom of the hull. Machine screws, socket head bolts? I would like to replace...